The best high chairs to buy in 2024 tried and tested by parents and babies

The best high chair doesn’t just keep your baby or toddler safe and secure in their seat, it's also comfy, low maintenance, and easy to clean.

Let’s face it, mealtimes with young kids can be incredibly messy, especially when you are thinking about how to start weaning. But with a savvy choice, you and your child can enjoy stress-free meals without worrying about having to spend hours cleaning up the carnage afterwards!

To help you find the best high chair for your child, we’ve rigorously tested a range of designs and models catering to different budgets, ages, and styles, so we can bring you this comprehensive guide. 

A decent high chair is something your child will use for years, so it’s important to choose wisely. You want your child’s weaning journey to be positive and picking the right high chair for your child is part of the process.

Our panel of parent reviewers put all these high chairs to the test, rating them using strict criteria including design, comfort, useability, how easy they are to clean, and value for money. They also noted how much their babies and toddlers enjoyed sitting in each high chair and considered if they were easy to fold away, and whether they had any extra features worth raving about. Read on for everything you need to know to choose the best high chair for your baby or toddler.

Best high chair 2023 at-a-glance

• Best high chair overall: Mamas & Papas Juice, £119 | Mamas and Papas
• Best top-of-the-range buy: Stokke Tripp Trapp, £219 | John Lewis
• Best budget buy: Graco Swift Fold, £124.98 | Amazon
• Best high chair for newborns: Silver Cross Buffet, £149 now £119 | Silver Cross
• Best high chair for wrigglers: Chicco Polly Magic, £179.74 now £153 | Amazon
• Best for smaller spaces: Vital Baby Nourish Scoop, £99.99 | John Lewis
• Best kid-friendly buy: Infantino Fox Grow with Me, £104.50 | Amazon
• Best for versatility: Koo-di Tiny Taster 3-in-1, £135 | Boots
• Best high chair for long-term value: Stokke Nomi, £219 | Stokke

The Mamas & Papas Juice Highchair is our top choice of the best high chair overall - it's easily one of the best we've ever tested. Offering excellent value for money, a seriously stylish design, and the option of later converting it into a toddler chair, this high chair ticks all our boxes. 

If value for money is your priority, the next best high chair is the Graco Swift Fold Highchair. Our tester was impressed with the quality of the build and the materials used. It's also remarkably easy to fold with one hand, and offers excellent flexibility with a variety of different heights and recline positions - and all in one affordable package.

And when it comes to premium design that you're prepared to pay more for, the best high chair in this category is the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair, a timeless design that shows no sign of waning in popularity. It's expensive, but its big selling point is that it's designed for use into adulthood.

The best high chair 2023 - tried and tested

Tested by: Kirsty Welsh and her one-year-old daughter, Clodagh.

Stylish? Tick. Affordable? Tick. Easy to clean? Tick. Grow with your child? Tick. The Juice Highchair, from British baby brand Mamas & Papas, has it all. With a sleek Scandi look, dishwasher-friendly parts, and a forward-thinking design that allows it to transition from a baby highchair to a junior chair, the Juice high chair offers multiple features at a budget-friendly price tag. Our tester loved so much about this item, from its looks and functionality to its longevity and how easy it is to clean, prompting her to declare it worthy of our best highchair accolade. 

For this buying guide, we asked mum Kirsty Welsh and her one-year-old daughter Clodagh to put the Juice Highchair to the test. Kirsty praised the chair’s smart appearance, value for money, and how easy it was to build and clean – and Clodagh seemed to love it just as much. 

'I was not expecting to like this high chair as much as I did! I couldn’t believe how well it went with our kitchen interiors – the exact color match of our cupboard doors… what are the chances?!' Kirsty told us. 'It offers value for money, it’s stylish, easy to build, easy to clean and it’s not bulky. The chair grows with your child too, as it can be converted to a toddler chair when the high chair is no longer needed - bonus!'

Kirsty also loved the fact that her daughter was so comfy in this high chair, and that clean-up time was fuss-free thanks to the dishwasher-friendly tray. 'I love the fact that the high chair isn’t bulky and the padding makes it so comfy for my daughter when dining,' she added. 'The fact you can pull everything apart to really deep clean it and even stick the tray in the dishwasher is an added bonus too.'

• Read our full review of the Mamas and Papas Juice high chair 

Tested by: Grace Holliday, and her seven-month-old daughter.

The iconic Tripp Trapp chair is 50 years old, but still as popular as ever. Created by Norwegian brand Stokke, the high chair is made of beech and oak woods, with its solid, sturdy, and high-quality materials meaning it can genuinely last a lifetime. The brand calls it a chair for life, and it’s easy to see this high chair becoming part of the family furniture for years to come.

Available in a wide range of colors, with complimentary personalization, the Tripp Trapp is a go-to choice for parents who want a highchair that will not just delight their children, but fit neatly into their home’s aesthetic too. With its clean, Scandi lines and unfussy design, the Tripp Trapp is a classic choice.

However it’s an inexpensive high chair - and you’ll also need to purchase a number of extra accessories depending on the age of your children, such as a newborn set, baby set, harness, or tray. But the chair can be continually reconfigured, eventually ending up as an adult chair that can support a weight of up to 136kg.  This promise of longevity is why the product is so popular, and truly makes this highchair stand out in a world of baby products that only last a couple of years.

We asked our parent tester, Grace Holliday, and her seven-month-old daughter to review the Tripp Trapp for Goodto. 'The Stokke Tripp Trapp has become something of a cult product amongst social media influencers and everyday parents alike,' Grace told us. 'With additional accessories and parts, it can be used to feed newborns, babies, toddlers, children, and - once they're all grown up - even adults.'

Made with European beech wood, Stokke really put their weight behind the claim that it's an investment for life with a seven-year warranty. This is a good choice for someone looking for a feeding chair for life, that will blend seamlessly with their adult decor and offer a comfortable and safe seating option for a variety of ages.

• Read our full Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair review or take a look at our Stokke Tripp Trapp newborn set review

Tested by: Michelle Morgan Davies and her son Finn, 18 months.

If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a high chair but want something that will be comfortable for your child and practical to use, you can’t go wrong with the Swift Fold Highchair from Graco.

The product’s standout feature is its simple one-handed fold which makes it easy to collapse and store, even when your other hand is full. It has nine height adjustment settings, three recline positions, and two front wheels for easy movement around the house. And for fuss-free clean-up time, the highchair has a removable tray (also possible to operate with only one hand free) and a dishwasher-safe removable tray insert.

The Swift Fold was tested out by our parent reviewer Michelle Morgan Davies and her son Finn, 18 months. Both parent and child were impressed with the highchair’s comfort and features, with Michelle praising everything from its appearance and easy fold design to its sturdiness and value for money. 

'I like the smart contemporary look coupled with the comfort for baby and the convenience of being able to store it away, and the quality is apparent, especially in the sturdy build and attractive design,' Michelle told us. 'I'd buy this high chair to enjoy seeing my baby in a stylish and comfortable seat while they explore new foods. The design would enhance a stylish living area.'

'It also feels very safe, as a toddler couldn't rock it or easily knock it over. The baby is kept in position by the comfortable straps which are easy to adjust and clip together. I'd recommend the Graco Swift Fold to anyone with enough space to accommodate it. It's a safe, smart, and comfortable chair that will last through the baby and toddler stages.'

• Read our full Graco Swift Fold high chair review  

Tested by: Simran Maini, and her daughter Nouri, six and a half months.

The Buffet Highchair is a recent launch from beloved British baby brand Silver Cross. Available in pink and grey, the product manages to be both functional and stylish. It offers longevity, too since your baby can use this high chair from birth until they are around three years old.

The high chair offers a four-position reclinable seat depending on your baby’s stage, plus seven adjustable height positions depending on where you want to use it. It also folds compactly so it's easy to store when not in use. And it’s super simple to keep clean, with a wipeable, removable seat cover, and a detachable tray with a dishwasher-safe divider. 

We gave the Buffet Highchair to our parent reviewer, Simran Maini, and her daughter Nouri, six and a half months old, to review. Simran was impressed by the highchair’s multiple functions, aesthetic qualities, and ease of use, while Nouri seemed comfortable in the high chair and enjoyed her weaning journey while sitting in it. 

'The Buffet high chair is really comfortable for your child, offering them lots of support so they can focus their attention on trying new foods,' Simran told us. 'It’s also easy to adjust the seat so they can sit at the dining table or at a breakfast bar. Plus, it’s so easy to clean, as all the bits that get grubby are detachable and are made from materials that are super easy to wipe down and clean.'

Simran liked this high chair so much that she has already recommended it to friends and family. 'I would recommend this because it has a really supportive seat that has been great for weaning Nouri in comfort while she has required extra sitting support,' she added. I can see how this would’ve come in handy from the newborn stage too as the seat reclines fully so it would’ve been great to use for baby while I was in the kitchen cooking. I’d be confident she’d be really comfortable and secure. This is the perfect high chair for someone who appreciates style and values a secure and comfortable seat that is well-engineered.'

• Read our full Silver Cross Buffet highchair review   

Tested by: Isobel Coulson, and her son Louis, six months.

The Chicco Polly Magic Relax Highchair is a practical, functional, and flexible product that’s suitable from birth to three years old. It's super-versatile thanks to three seat positions - including a lie-flat position - and eight adjustable height settings. 

The high chair has a grey-colored frame and a choice of five colours of seat. It also comes with a toy bar included to help entertain little ones at mealtimes and beyond. The tray is extremely wide - which leaves lots of space for your baby’s food, drinks, and toys - and it can be removed if you prefer your baby to sit at the table with you.

It has four wheels so it's easy to move from room to room, and it folds compactly to keep it out of the way when not in use. The high chair’s surfaces can be wiped for cleaning, while the fabric parts are machine washable. 

The Chicco Polly Magic Relax Highchair was tried out by our parent tester, Isobel Coulson, and her son Louis, six months old. Isobel was impressed with the chair’s many features, saying: 'I love how multifunctional this high chair is; it feels like we’ve got three products for the price of one! The mobile is great for distracting Louis and keeping him occupied when I'm busy doing the washing-up or cooking.'

Isobel also liked the high chair’s adaptability, wide removable tray, and comfortable padded seat. 'It’s quite difficult to find a stylish highchair that looks good in a kitchen; this one looked great in our kitchen but it's also practical and safe,' she added. 'Louis loves the mobile which keeps him distracted and means he has something to play with (other than his food!) when my back is turned. The mobile and the seat itself are both also adjustable in height, so we can adapt it to his size as he gets older.'

• Read our full Chicco Polly Magic Relax high chair review

Tested by: Leah Borromeo and her 19-month-old, Riley Roo.

If your kitchen is on the small side and you can’t bear the thought of a giant highchair taking up all your extra space, the Nourish Scoop Highchair from family-run UK baby business Vital Baby is a great option. It’s super-easy to assemble and use, with easy buttons to fold it up and store it away. Costing under £100, it’s also well-priced.

This high chair converts into a toddler chair so your baby won't outgrow it as quickly as traditional high chairs. There’s also a seat cushion an adjustable footrest for comfort, and a dishwasher-safe tray for easy cleanups.

The Nourish Scoop Highchair was tested by our parent reviewer, Leah Borromeo, alongside 19-month-old Riley Roo. While Leah didn’t immediately fall in love with the look of the chair, she found it easy and intuitive to use and appreciated the compactness and simplicity of the item.

'This is an adjustable, lightweight, foldable high chair that converts into a toddler chair,' she told us. 'I was pleasantly surprised at how easy to assemble it is. It’s versatile - you can take it out of the dining room and use it as a toddler seat in other parts of the house. It’s adjustable and the footrest is a game-changer.

'The chair is wipe-down friendly and the tray is dishwasher safe. The metal legs feel sturdy and the chunks of plastic are reasonably good quality. The Vital Baby Nourish Scoop is definitely for a family who wants a flexible, easy-to-clean option for their growing child.'

Riley Roo also seemed to like it too. 'We have tested a handful of high chairs but this is the one that our small one actually wants to sit in!'

• Read our full Vital Baby Nourish Scoop Highchair review

Tested by: Katrina Stockdale, and her son, Raphael, 21 months

Anyone with a child will know just how much space all the baby products you’ll buy take up. That’s why the Infantino Fox Grow with Me 4-in-1 Convertible Highchair represents such great value for money, as it essentially offers four products in one.

The high chair starts as a reclining seat suitable for babies from three months, turning into a high chair for babies six months and above, with a meal tray insert. It then transforms into a chair booster and, finally, a toddler chair.

This high chair is designed to appeal to babies as much as to their parents, with an eye-catching orange fox design and turquoise details. It also has a wipe-clean seat and a dishwasher-safe silicone meal mat and tray for convenient clean-ups. 

The Infantino Fox Grow with Me 4-in-1 Convertible Highchair was tested out by our parent reviewer Katrina Stockdale, and her son, Raphael, 21 months. Raphael loved the chair’s cute design, while Katrina was impressed by how many forms the chair could take, as well as how easy it was to clean. 

'This is a playful, sturdy, multi-functional high chair with added extras such as a removable tray and footrest, which is easy to clean,' Katrina told us. "It grows with your baby, thanks to an adjustable seat and the fact that you can turn into a booster or toddler chair. The seat seems comfortable and supportive for both babies and toddlers, and it's simple to clean with no hard-to-get-at parts. And since, it's a multi-functional high chair, booster seat, and toddler chair in one, you don't need to buy multiple products plus you'll save on space.'

• Read our full Infantino Fox Grow with Me 4-in-1 Convertible high chair review

Tested by: Melissa Hernández and her son George, 10 months

If you’re looking for a stylish investment chair that will last your family for years, the Koo-di Tiny Taster 3-in-1 Highchair will definitely appeal to you. Made of whitewashed wood and wipe-clean leatherette fabrics, the high chair is both elegant and practical. Its standout selling point is the fact that it can convert to grow with your child, lasting from six months until eight years old. Depending on your child’s age, the chair can be a high chair, a toddler chair, or a big kid stool. 

A cosy seat pad gives your child support and comfort, while a removable, adjustable tray insert and adjustable three-position footrest offer practicality. Wheels make it easy to move around your home, while the tray is dishwasher-safe for painless cleaning. The straps can also be removed and placed in the washing machine to ensure you can keep your chair spotless. 

The Koo-di Tiny Taster 3-in-1 Highchair was tried out by Melissa Hernández and her son George, aged 10 months. Melissa admired both the chair’s aesthetic qualities and its practical functions. 

'The Koo-di Tiny Taster 3-in-1 Highchair can be used from six months until eight years old,' she told us. 'This is a 3-in-1 product because it can be used as a classic high chair, toddler chair, or high stool. It comes with a padded seat, removable tray insert, and footrest.

'It has a designer, quality feel and a great choice of materials which makes it all the more special, plus it is very practical too. It’s a quality product that looks stylish and is easy to clean, as the tray can go straight into the dishwasher and the straps can be removed and put into the washing machine. This is a modern-looking chair; the egg shape has 1960s vibes and adapts along with your child. I loved the look of the high chair and the way it fitted in so well with the rest of my kitchen.'

• Read our full Koo--di Tiny Taster 3-in-1 High Chair review

Tested by: Gemma Swainsbury and her 19-month-old daughter, Fenella

A high chair gets a lot of use - think three meals a day plus snacks - and babies are messy eaters. So one of the most important things to consider, before you buy a highchair, is how easy it is to clean. 

The Stokke Nomi high chair is a dream to clean, according to our parent tester. 'I was so impressed by the open design and how easy it is to clean the Stokke Nomi highchair, even after the messiest of meals,' says Gemma, who reviewed this highchair for Goodto. 'Compared to other highchairs this seems very easy to access so there's minimal risk of crumbs or dropped food building up underneath the child or within the chair.'

While the Nomi isn't a budget buy, we're impressed by the value for money it represents, given that it's designed to last well into adulthood. Factor in that you don't need to buy a child's dining chair or desk chair.

'Aesthetically, this high chair is really appealing - it's clean, sleek, understated, and subtle whilst packing some really clever design features like the fully adjustable seat and footrest, and wheels at the back for ease of movement,' adds Gemma. 'Yes, cheaper highchairs exist but the price tag is absolutely justifiable on account of all the years of use we'll get from the Nomi. It has even given our beloved Stokke Tripp Trapp a run for its money!'

• Read our full Stokke Nomi Review

Best high chair - how we tested

Our product testing methodology is robust, fair and consistent. First, our Consumer Editor Heidi Scrimgeour - an expert in all things baby gear and a mum of three - shortlisted her pick of the top high chairs based on her industry knowledge and product research. 

Next, we gave them to a panel of mums and dads to try out for rigorous testing and review. We asked our reviewers to test their products over several weeks and report their findings to us so that we could analyse their feedback to select our pick of the best high chairs overall, along with the best budget high chair and, at the other end of the spectrum, the best premium high chair.

We selected every type of high chair going, from basic designs for simple, easy mealtimes to luxurious, premium models that double as newborn chairs and toddler seats - they're all here. We asked our testers to carefully consider key features including ease of cleaning, compactness, and comfort. We also asked them to tell us about functionality, ease of use, and value for money.

How to choose the best high chair

• Safety - Adam Shaw, a founder of At Dad's Table, told us, 'You must be able to secure the baby in the chair so they can't easily fall out,' he adds. 'A footrest is a must as it allows for better support and stability, and strengthens muscles.
• Adaptability - It needs to be moveable so you can pull the baby close to the table if you need to, or close to you while you're feeding. You should be able to easily adjust all aspects of the highchair so it can change as the baby grows.
• Ease of cleaning - Adam, author of How to Grow Your Family added, ''It should also be easy to clean because weaning gets messy and you don't want a highchair that stains easily or contains parts you need to put in the washing machine three times a day!'
• Style vs function - When making your highchair selection, consider your lifestyle, home, and priorities first. If your first priority is to choose something stylish that will blend into your home, there are plenty of products to suit that need, with multiple colours available to complement the look of your house. 
• Budget vs investment - If you’re going to invest in a more expensive chair because of how it looks, then consider buying one that can adapt with your child as they grow. This makes a more expensive chair a worthwhile purchase, as you will still be using it well past the toddler years. If you are on a budget, good news: there are so many high-quality highchairs to choose from, all at affordable prices.
• Space - You may wish to opt for a highchair that can fold up and be stored away if you have a smaller kitchen. If you have more space to play with in your home, you might prefer to opt for one that comes with more bells and whistles, such as an included toy bar or the chance to convert it into a booster seat or child’s stool as your child grows.

How high chairs help child development - an expert's view

Adam Shaw, an expert speaker at The Baby Show, says that a highchair is vital for a baby’s social, muscle, and motor skills development. 'The dinner table is such a focal point of the house and a place where baby and parent will spend so much time together. It's important to choose a chair that supports the baby, aids muscle development, and supports motor skills development too. 

'The high chair is brilliant for social development - it's the only piece of baby equipment that enables baby to connect to and be on the same level as other family members. Try to pick a chair that changes to a child's seat so that it will last for years. We have three versions of the same highchair around our table, each at different heights and sizes. Pick the right chair and it will definitely become part of the furniture!'

There are so many highchair options on the market that the answer will depend on multiple factors, including how many added features you’re looking for, whether you want the chair to grow with your child, and how important the chair’s aesthetics are to you. The good news is that there are many chairs available for all budgets and tastes.

Curated by

Curated by

Heidi Scrimgeour

Heidi Scrimgeour joined GoodTo after a 16-year freelance career as a parenting and lifestyle journalist, during which she was the baby gear editor of Mother & Baby magazine and wrote for most of the UK's national newspapers and a wide variety of consumer publications. As a mum of three - whose children are now at primary school, college, and university - she has lots of first-hand experience testing and reviewing baby gear, and plenty of strong opinions about what is - and what isn't - actually worth buying for your baby.

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